Concert puts rock ‘n’ roll spin on classic holiday fare

Performance benefits Americana Music Academy

For the dozens of music fans packed into Liberty Hall, jingling bells and sleigh rides instead learned to rock ‘n’ roll Sunday afternoon.

“It’s not the traditional church music you hear,” explained organizer Diane Gillenwater. “We decided: Let’s rock it out.”

For the first time, more than two dozen musicians from as far away as Norton, Paola and beyond gathered on the Liberty Hall stage to get folks in the holiday spirit and raise some money for the Americana Music Academy, 1419 Mass.

The Prairie Fire Grand Community String Orchestra played old-style holiday songs backed up by a decidedly rock ‘n’ roll rhythm. The orchestra was composed of 32 area performers who, before October, were relative strangers.

But after contemplating a holiday show, Gillenwater decided to put out the call to students at the Americana Music Academy, where she teaches, and to music pros to play in the orchestra.

Tracy Tugman got the call at her home in Topeka. The Topeka Symphony cellist heard there were plenty of violins and other high-pitched fare, so her talents were requested.

“We needed a little more on the low end,” Tugman said.

The Prairie Fire Grand Community String Orchestra performs during the Christmas Rocks 2006 concert at Liberty Hall. The orchestra was led Sunday afternoon by Diane Gillenwater, a teacher at Americana Music Academy.

The performers then practiced on Sundays at the Lawrence Police station at 4820 Bob Billings Parkway, using the training room when officers didn’t need it, Gillenwater said.

Sunday’s show wound up with plenty of string sound on both ends of the spectrum – plus drums and voices that rollicked through classics such as “Jingle Bell Jazz” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

It’s something Gillenwater thought both kids and adults could enjoy, and she hopes even more will enjoy the show next year.

If all goes as planned, she said, the orchestra could rent a bus and travel across the region, performing its version of holiday tunes along the way – all to benefit the school that trained many of the performers.

Rock out with Americana